Can-closing device



s. P. MILLER 1,744,487

2 Sheets-Sheet. l

lNVENTOR ATTORNEY 5+uar'f 2 Miller CAN CLOSING DEVIGE Filed Feb. 9." 1926 Jan. 21, '1930.

Jan. 21, 1930. s. P. MILLER 1,

cm CLOSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 9. 1926 2 Sheets-Shea. 2

I 74 Fi .7

13 3 ta; J12 -1 Z5 7 I 6/9 28 14 G H x v 7 5/9 3 30 26 fuar'f p MlY/el' INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES yATlZNT QFFHQE STUART P. MILLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE BARRETT COMPANY, A CORPORATION QF NEW JERSEY CAN-CLOSING DEVICE Application filed February This invention relates to can closing devices and more particularly to a new anduseful type for expanding a part of the cap within the cover of the can.

In the shipment of certain products, such as chemicals in liquid granular or powdered form, a large can is employed in the cover of which are located one or more small openings thru which the chemicals may be introduced or removed. These openings must be securely closed for the shipment of the material and for this purpose it has been the practice touse small caps of various kinds.

It has frequently been necessary to solder these caps in place in order to insure transportation of the material without leakage. Caps have also been used which are held in place by the forcing of the cap into the hole in the cover of the can, friction between the cap and the cover being depended upon entirely to hold it in place. This is an insecure method f r cans of any considerable size and losses have often occurred, in shipment, by such methods.

The present invention is designed to expand that portion of the cap which is within the cover of the can so that the accidental removal thereof in the ordinary course of shipment is impossible and so that a substantially watertight seal is provided.

The nature and objects of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and drawings made a part hereof:

In the drawings in which like reference characters represent like parts,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the device taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2,,showing the stub feet pushed outward.

F 2 is a bottom plan View thereof.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the body of my device looking from left to right of Fig. 1.

Fig. at is a plan view of the body.

5 is vertical section of the body similar to the section shown in 1.

F 6 is a vertical section of the expanding cylinder, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section of a modification of the crimping members.

My invention consists the following 9, 1926. Serial No. 87,039.

main parts, namely, body (1), stub feet (15), expansion cylinder rod pressure handle (4:5) and squeeze handles and The body (1) (more clearly shown in Figs. 3, 1, and 5) is hollow thruout and has an upper portion (2) cylindrical in cross section and a lower enlarged portion (3) substantially hexagonal in cross sect-ion. In the hexagonal portion (3) are formed three slots (4), located 120 apart, within which are to be located the stub feet (15) pivoted by means of a pin (17) in hole (5) located in the upper part of each slot (4). The number of slots (4) and stub feet (15) which I have shown are merely illustrative, since there are cases Where the cap is large or where the space within which the handles (50) and (51) may be swung is small, and more slots and stub feet placed equidistantly about the body may be desirable. Above one of the slotted portions (4) are elongated ears (6) and (7) forming a slot 8) which is, in fact, a continuation of the slot (at) and within which slot (8) are to be mounted handles (50) and (51). Within the body (1) is a cylindrical opening (11) at the upper end of which is formed a circumferential groove (12) and a small hole (13) to accommodate a pin (40), more fully to be hereinafter described. A small distance below the circumferential groove (12), eX- tending entirely thru the body (1), is a large hole (14:) for a purpose to be later described.

The stub feet (15), roughly speaking, are elongated flat members adapted to be pivoted at one end and to carry reciprocable crimping means which in the preferred embodiment shown comprises a revoluble crimping roll at the other end of each of said stub feet. In the upper portion of each foot (15) is a hole (16) adapted to receive a pin (17). At its upper portion the stub foot is slotted as at (18).

Extending from the lower side of said slotted portion into the body of the foot is a hole (19) adaptedto receivethe end o-fa torsional spring (20) Abutting the lowerportion ofeach stub foot (15) is a crimping roll (21) revolubly secured thereto by the pin (28). These rolls are replaceable by others of the same or a different size for a purpose more fully to be hereinafter described. Furthermore, instead of using crimping rolls (21) I may merely shape the lower end of each stub foot so as to perform the same function-as a crimping roll, altho such is not as practical as the crimping roll.

The expansion member (as shown in Fig. 6) comprises a hollow cylinder thruout its major portion, of such an external diameter as to slidingly fit into the opening (11) in the body (1), and has a lower enlarged ortion (26) with a conical or cam surface (27) WVithin the expansion member the cylindrical portion (28) is enlarged at (29) to form a circumferential shoulder (30), the portion (28) being of such diameter as will slidingly receive the rod Extending entirely thru the upper portion of the memher is an elliptical hole The rod (35) is slotted and has the same diameter thruout except for the lower onlarged portion (36) which is cylindrical and which forms a shoulder The lower end of the rod is roughened as at (38), so

; crimping rolls as they expand. said cap.

. portion (47) of such a that when the entire can closing device is put in place and is being operated, the roughened portion (38) bearing upon the can cap prevents the latter "from being turned by tlAie i. t the upper end of the rod is a hole (39) adapted to receive the pin (40).

The handle comprises the hand grip (46), below which is a smaller cylindrical diameter as to slidingly fit into the opening (11) in the body 1). Within the cylindrical portion (47) of the handle (45) is an opening (48) of such a diameter as to slidingly receive the rod (35). In the cylindrical portion (4'?) is a hole (49) of the same size as pin (40).

The squeeze handles (50) and (51) have any desired length or style of grip. The handle (50) is provided with downwardly extending flattened end (52) in which are located holes (53) as plainly shown in Fig. 1. The end is of such a thickness as to lit snugly into slot (8) of the body Handle (51) is provided with arms 55) in which located holes (56) and as shown in Fig. 2.

The body (1) and the stub'feet may be made of cast iron or steel, while the handles (50) and (51) and the rod (35) may be made of cold rolled steel. The expansion member (25) and the crimping rolls may be of cold rolled steel but should be case hardened at the surfaces 2'?) and respectively. The roughened portion could well be case hardened also. The handle may he oi wood, aluminum or other material and, in fact, all of the materials herein mentioned are merely illustrative of what may be used and applicant has no intention of being limited thereby.

My complete device is the result of assembling the above described parts as follows:

The stub feet (15) are pivoted in the slots (4) of body (1) by a pin (17), which pin at the same time holds in position the spring (20) which has one end thereof thrust into the hole (19) and the other end thereof bearing against that portion of the cylindrical part (2) of the body (1) which lies between theears (6) and Because of the spring (20) it is the natural tendency for the lower end of the stub feet (15) to bear inwardly. The expansion member (25) is now inserted from below into the cylindrical opening (11) of the body (1) and is so located that the conical portion (27) contacts with the curved portions (24) of the stub feet, as very clearly shown in Fig. 1. In the opening (29) of the expansion member (25) and abutting the circumferential shoulder (30) is placed a helical spring (34). The rod (35) is then inserted from below into the opening (28) 0t theexpansion member (25) so that the lower portion of the spring (34) bears upon the shoulder (37 caused by the enlargement (36).

v The cylindrical portion (47) of the handle (45) is now inserted into the upper portion of the cylindrical. opening (11) of the body (1). The handle (45) and the rod (35) are now rotated until the holes (49) and (39), respectively, of these two members coincide with the hole (13) of the body (1) and the pin (40) is then driven into place so as to be centrally located with respect to all parts with which it contacts. The handle (45) is, therefore, firmly secured to the rod both being rotatable within the body (1), the ends of the pin (40) riding in the groove (12).

The flattened end (52) of the handle (50) is next inserted into the slot (8) and is partially held in place by pin driven into the upper hole (9) and the upper hole The handle (51) is so placed that the arms incline upwardly and the holes (56) aline with lower hole of the ears (6) and (7) andwith lower hole (53) of the handle (50). A pin (54) is next located in these holes and secured in place by small set screws. The handle (51) is then manipulated to aline the holes (57), (14) and (31) on either side, pins (58) are inserted from either side so as to almost abut the rod and are secured 1n position by set screws. The handle (5 is, therefore, rigidly attached to the body (1), while handle is pivoted thereto.

The operation of the device is as follows: A cap (61) having been inserted in the cover (62) of acan to be capped, the lower portion of the device is brought to rest within the cap (61) i. e., the roughened portion is brought to bear firmly upon the center of the cap, the crimping rolls (21) being in retracted position within the rim of the cap.

The type of cap shown is merely illustrative of the sort of cap with which my device may be used. For instance, the rim of the can opening may be turned downwardly instead of upwardly. By the left hand the operator grasping the grip (46) holds the device in place and with the right hand squeezes together the levers (50) and (51). The leverage thus exerted is transmitted thru the pins (58) to the expansion member (25), the pins (58) sliding somewhat in the elliptical hole (31) causing the expansion member (25) to travel downwardly and the conical portion (27) to be forced against the curved portions (24-) of the stub feet (15), thereby causing the crimping rolls 21) to be thrust outwardly against the rim of the cap (61). Because of the immense mechanical advantage between the point of application of force, namely, the handles 50) and 51), and the points upon which this force finally acts, namely, the rolls (21) the said rolls are thrust outwardly with immense force compared to the force necessary to be applied to the handles (50) and (51). Because of the grooved portion (22) the rim of the cap (61) is thrust outwardly at (65), and if the pressure exerted in squeezing the handles (50) and 51) is carried further, that portion of the cover (62) surrounding the cap hole is curved upwardly at (66) as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Simultaneously with the squeezing together of the handles (50) and (51), they are swung thru an angle of or more, thereby causing the cap (61) and that portion of the cover (62) surrounding the cap hole to be securely interlocked to form a. substantially water-tight seal which will not be broken by accidental means. If, as before referred to, it is found desirable to use a different number of stub feet pivoted equidistantly about the body (1),

the arc thru which the handles 50) and (51) must be swung is correspondingly varied, for instance, for two stub feet an arc of or for four stub feet an arc of 90, etc. The length of the expansion member (25) is such that in its downward movement it abuts the shoulder (37), such contact occurring simultaneously with or a little before the grips of the handles (50) and (51) contact one with the other. When the handle (51) is released b th operator the expansion member (25) is returned to its normal position by the spring (34) and the stub feet resume their inwardly inclined position because of the spring (20).

Fig. 7 shows a modification of the recipro cable crimping means which I may employ. The same parts are used as otherwise contemplated except there are no pivoted stub feet and the lower hexagonal part of the body (1) is not slotted but may be larger in cross section. One crimping arm will be described altho any number or size may be employed, depending on the size of cap to be crimped. two or more crimping arms be ing found desirable. In the hexagonal portion of the body member (1) and adjacent to the region of travel of the conical portion (27 is located a hole (71) in which is inserted a slidable rod (72) secured against turning. On the inner end ofthis rod is placed an helical spring The thrust member (74) having a face of substantially the same slope as the portion (27), is then pinned or otherwise secured to the inner end of rod (72) thus holding the spring (73) in place. To the outer end of the rod (7 2) is secured a downwardly extending pin (75) carrying the revoluble crimping roll (21) somewhat similar if desired, to the pin (23) except that a circumferential shoulder (76) may be driven on tothe pin to hold the roll (21) in revoluble position. The roll (21) thus lies in about the same place as originally contemplated. Thus with this modification, as the expanding member (25) is thrust downward it forces the crimping arm outwardly'by contacting the conical portion (27) with the inclined face of the thrust member (74). )Vhen the expanding member (25) rises, the crimping arm will be retracted by the spring 7 3. This modification can be used with advantage when crimping large caps requiring a long crimping arm but no increase in the rest of the parts is contemplated being used. In fact I may desire to combine this modification with the originally described device, merely locating-square holes alternately with the slots 4) so that the crimping arms may be inserted when desired, the stub feet (15) being left in place or removed as the operator may find desirable.

Whenever the crimping rolls become worn small or the hole in the can cover and the caps therefor are made too large the crimping action accomplished by my device may be found to be insuflicient because the outward movement of the crimping rolls is necessarily limited by the limited downward movement of the expansion member (25). In such cases, the crimping rolls being replaceable, others of a sufficiently larger size to give the desired crimping action may easily be installed as hereinbefore described.

The advantages of my invention are that it is easily constructed, durable and simple in operation. The old and tedious method of soldering caps to can covers can be discarded and We no longer need depend only upon the friction of the cap with the can cover to hold the cap in place. By the use of my invention it is possible to cap cans in a small fraction of the time heretofore required and furthermore it is impossible for a cap applied bu means of my invention to become removed from the can accidentally, or for the material within the can to leak out, the water-tight seal provided preventing any such contingencies from arising.

In cases where a large number of cans are tobe capped it may be found desirable to have them travel past the operator on a traveling belt or the like, and to have the can closing device so mounted that it may be pressed down by a foot treadle, for instance, the expanding of the crimping rolls and the rotation thereof may be accomplished by power-means if desired.

hat I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent of the United tates is:

1. A can closing device comprising a body, a plurality of downwardly extending stub feet pivoted at their upper ends to said body, an expansion member positioned in said body and contacting with said feet and a handle pivoted to the body and connected to the expansion member for forcing the latter downward.

'2. A can closing device comprising a body, a. plurality of downwardly extending stub feet pivoted, at their upper ends to said body, an expansion member positioned in said body and contacting with said feet, a handle substantially perpendicularly affixed to said body and another handle, substantially parallel to the former, pivoted to the body and connected to the expansion member for forcing the latter downward.

A can closing device comprising a body, a plurality of stub feet pivoted to said body, an expansion member slidingly fitting in said body and contacting with said stub feet, a rod within said expansion member having the body rotatably secured thereto and a handle secured to said rod.

4. A can closing device comprising a body, a plurality of stub feet pivoted to said body, an expansion member slidingly fitting in said body and contactin with said stub feet, a shouldered rod slidingly fitted within said expansion member and having the body rotatably secured thereto and a handle secured to said rod.

5. A can closing device comprising a body, a plurality of stub feet pivoted to said body, an expansion member slidingly fitting in said body and contacting with said stub feet, a rod slidingly fitted within said expansion member and having the body rotatably secured thereto, said rod having a lower enlarged portion which is roughened on its under side and a handle secured to the upper end of said rod.

6. A can closing device comprising a body, a plurality of downwardly extending stub feet pivoted symmetrically to said body at their upper ends, an expansion member slidingly fitting in said body and having a lower cam portion contacting with said stub feet for forcing same outwardly, and spring means directly connected to said expansion member for retracting said member. 7

7. A can closing device comprising a body, a plurality of downwardly extending stub feet pivoted symmetrically to said body at their upper ends, an expansion member slidingly fitting in said body and having a lower cam surface contacting with said stub feet and a handle pivoted to the said body and connected to the expansion member for forcing the latter downward.

8. A can closing device comprising a body, a plurality of downwardly extending stub feet pivoted symmetrically to said body at their upper ends, an expansion member slidingly fitting in said body and having a cam surface contacting with said stub feet, a handle substantially perpendicularly aflixed to said body and another handle, substantially parallel to and adjacent the former, pivoted to the body and connected to the expansion member for forcing the latter downward.

9. A can closing device comprising a body, a plurality of downwardly extending stub feet pivoted symmetrically to said body at their upper ends, an expansion member slidingly fitting in said body and having a cam surface contacting with said stub feet for forcing same outwardl', a shouldered rod slidingly fitted within said expansion member and rotatably secured to the body and a spring abutting said shoulder and said expansion member for returning the latter to its normal position.

10. A can closing device comprising a body, a plurality of downwardly extending stub feet pivoted symmetrically to said body at their upper ends, an expansion member slidingly fitting in said body and having a cam surface contacting with said stub feet for forcing same outwardly, a rod slidingly fitted within said expansion member and rotatably secured to the body, said rod having a lower enlarged portion which is roughened on its under side and a spring abutting said enlarged portion and said expansion member for returning the latter to its normal position.

11. A can closing device comprising a body, a plurality of downwardly extending stub feet pivoted symmetrically to said body at their upper ends, an expansion memberslidingly fitting in said body and having a cam surface contacting with said stub feet, a bandle pivoted to the body and connected to the expansion member for forcing the latter downward, a shouldered rod slidingly fitted within said expansion member and rotatably secured to the body and a spring abutting said shoulder and said expansion member for returning the latter to its normal position.

12. A can closing device comprising a body, a plurality of downwardly ext-ending stub feet pivoted symmetrically to said body at their upper ends, an expansion member slidingly fitting in said body and having a cam surface contacting with said stub feet for forcing,- same outwardly, a shouldered rod slidingly fitted within said expansion member, .a handle secured to the rod, both the handle and the rod being rotatably secured to the body, and a spring abutting said shoulder and said expansion member for returning the latter to its normal position.

13. A can closing device comprising a body, a plurality of downwardly extending stub feet pivoted symmetrically to said body at their upper ends, and expansion member slidingly fitting in said body and having a lower enlarged conical surface contacting with said stub feet, a handle pivoted to the body and connected to the expansion member for forcing the latter downward, a shouldered rod slidingly fitted within said expansion memher, a second handle secured to the rod, both the second handle and the rod being rotatably secured to the body and a spring abutting said shoulder and said expansion member for returning the latter to its normal position.

14. A can closing device comprising a rotatable body member, a plurality of reciprocable stub feet mounted on said body member, means for actuating said stub feet comprising an expansion member having a cam surface contacting therewith and a supporting rod having said body member rotatably secured thereto.

15. A can closin device comprising a rotatable body member, a support extending through said body member and having said member rotatably mounted thereon, a plurality of reciprocable crimping means comprising a revolvable crimping roll mounted on said body member and an expansion member for actuating said crimping means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

STUART P. MILLER. 

